Window construction



July 29, 1941 w. KRAEMER WINDOW CONSTRUCTION 3 Sheets-Sheet ,1

Filed March 11, 1940 INVENTOR M100 1.

ATTORNEY Patented July 29, 1941 OFlCE WIN DONV CONSTRUCTION Waldo L. Kraemer, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to Kearfott Engineering 00., Inc., a, corporation of New York 7 Claims.

This invention relates to the construction of windows that are designed and especially suitable for enclosing decks of ships, sun porches and the like where an unobstructed view is a desideratum and it is required that the closures be capable of being substantially opened. Windows for this purpose are disclosed in my Patent No. 2,189,758 issued February 13, 1940.

In the form of such windows to which my present invention is adapted the frames, which are sufficiently adjacent to make a substantially continuous glass enclosure, contain each four sashes of approximately the same height, of. which the top and bottom sashes are fixed or immovable and the two middle sashes meet at the transverse middle line of the frame and are movable in opposite directions to open and close the space between the fixed sashes. The topand bottom fixed sashes are offset, respectively, outwardly and inwardly of the slidable sashes and there is a slight overlapping at the top and bottom of the slidable sashes when the window is closed.

' The sashes of such Windows are of considerable Weight and are ordinarily of less height than Width. One of the real problems therefore is to provide means which can be easily operated to open and close the windows and at the'same time will preclude any possibility of the slidable sashes warping or canting and binding in'the frame.

In accordance with this invention the means for effecting simultaneous movement of the slidable sashes in opposite directions are designed to maintain an absolute timing of the two sides of the sashes. Specifically a rack and pinion construction is employed, one on each side of the frame, and means, such as a cross shaft, are employed for securing the two pinions together against relative angular movement. With such construction the two sides of the sashesmust. move in absolute unison. Furthermore this provides a counterbalancing of the two slidable sashes.

Unevennesses or slope of the floor will often require a frame to have one side lower than the other although the sides of the frame are required to be vertical. This is particularly true of the deck of a ship where appearance demands that the line of the window sashes follow the sheer of the deck instead of being stepped. In such case the sashes may be given other than a rectangular form, to bring the tops and bottoms of the sashes into parallelism with the deck. For such construction my invention contemplates a universal joint connection between the ends of the shaft and the pinions which will allow the pinion shafts to be somewhat out of line and still will maintain the pinions in fixed angular relation. I

-My invention also includes various other details of construction which afford ease of assembly and disassembly, tightness and security of closure and other advantages which will hereinafter more fully appear.

I shall now describe the illustrated embodiment of the invention and shall thereafter point out my invention in claims.

Fig. 1 is an inside elevation of the window;

Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the same on line 22 of Fig. l, with the top and. bottom portions broken away and illustrating the provision for assembly and. removal of the slidable sashes;

Fig, 3 is an enlarged broken section on the same line as Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a partial sectional plan on line 4-4 of Fi 1;

Fig. 5 isya sectional elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 4 on the broken line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a partial sectional planon line 66 of Fig. l; and I Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing optional supplemental manual operating means for the slidable sashes.

The frame of the window is shown as having a circumambient flange l which is secured by suitable means to the side or wall 2 of the ship or other structure in register with the window opening therein, a gasket 3 being preferably provided. The frame is shown as rectangular and of substantial width from front to back to accommodate three sash ways, one for the top fixed sash; one for the two alined movable sashes, and one for the bottom fixed sash, disposed successively from back to front;

The top fixed sash has H-shape .top and. side frame pieces, ,4, 5 and B respectively, and a channel shape bottom frame piece I in which a pane of glass 8 is mounted. This sash is set in an internal: channel in the laterally rear portion of the top member?! and the side members I0 and II of the window frame. This channel is recessed in these frame members and in addition' a supplemental channel strip I2 is set in each of the side members In and H into which the sash side members 5 and 6 fit. The channel strips ['2 are coincident in length with [the height of the sash, as best shown in Fig. 3, and bracket members l3 (one being shown) arese'cured to front end and receives the bottom piece [4 ofthe sash, and the side frame members Hi and I I are similarly channeled and have channel strips and 2| set therein coincident in length.

with the height of the bottom fixed frame, the side pieces l5 and I6 of the sash being received in these channel strips.

Midway between the front and rear channels of the side frame members I0 and II are-longitudinal guide rails 22, the one on member In only being shown in the drawings, but it is to be understood that there is the same construction on side member H. Therefore a description of the one side will suffice for both. The two movable sashes slide on these guides.

As shown the guide rails are sectional. This is for the purpose of enabling the sashes to be put in and removed. The rails are set in grooves 22a (see Fig. 2) in the side frames ID and II and are secured by screws entering from the outer face, as shown in Fig. 6. There are three sections to each rail, the lower terminating just below the level of the top of the bottom fixed sash at the point marked a: in Fig. 2, and the next one extending from point at to point y just above the meeting line of the movable sashes. The third or top section extends from point 11 to the top of the side frame member. In Fig. 2 the middle section is shown removed for a purpose which will be later explained.

The upper movable sash and the lower movable sash have each H.-shape side pieces which are received and slide upon the rails. The upper sash has a channel-shape top piece 23, H-shape side pieces 24 and 25 and an H-shape bottom piece 26, and encloses a glass pane 21.

The lower movable sash is of like construction, having a channel-shape top piece 28 which has a longitudinal boss 28a complementary to and fitting into the bottom channel of the piece zfi which it meets whenthe window is closed, a gasket of rubber or other suitable material being inserted as shown; and also havin H-shape side pieces 29 and 30 and a channel bottom piece 3|, enclosing a pane 32.

For weather-stripping purpose a bent strip 33 of phosphor bronze or othersuitable material is provided in the channels of the side pieces, the reversely bent edges of which bear resiliently upon the guide rails. The movable sashes overlap the fixed sashes, as shown, and rubber gaskets are provided in the adjacent faces of the overlapping .sash members to effect a tight-seal when the windows are closed.

The interconnecting means for producing simultaneous opposed movement of the two movable sashes consist of racks and pinions which will now be described. Secured to each side piece 24 and 25 of the upper movable sash frame isa rack 34 which extends slightly above the top of the sash. Facing each rack 34 is a rack 35 removably attached at its lower end to an outstanding bracket arm 36 and of a length to extend to the top of the window frame when the windows are closed, as shown in Fig.3.

These racks mesh with pinions 31 on opposite sides thereof which pinions are mounted on transverse axes and carried by the side frame members In and H substantially on the line of the bottom piece 1 of the top fixed sash. Bearings for the pinions are provided in castings 38 bolted on the outer face of the respective side frame members, the casting being shaped to dispose the bearing 39 forwardly of the racks 34, the frame members being cut out to accommodate the bearings. The hub 40 of the pinion is surrounded by a bushing in the bearing and an oil cup 4| for the bearing is screwed into a tapped hole in the bearing.

The two pinions 3'! are connected by a cross shaft 42. In the construction shown the shaft has a universal joint connection with the pinions. The pinion has on its inner face a hollow hub 43 provided with diametrically opposed open slots in which a pin 44 through the shaft 42 engages. A packing in the hub permits movement about the pin 44 and at right angles thereto and at the same time prevents rattling.

In the form shown in Figs. 1, 4 and 5 the hubs 40 are secured in their bearings by nuts 45 on the reduced outer end ofthe hubs and washers between the nuts and the hub shoulder. In this construction the upper movable sash is provided with handles 46 on the bottom piece 26 of the sash and it is evident that the raising and lowering of this upper sash will impart rotation to the pinions and move the racks 35 in the opposite direction. The racks are of such length that there are a few extra teeth on the racks 34 when the windows are closed, and there are a few extra teeth on the racks 35 when the windows are fully open. In other words the racks cannot escape from the pinions in either extreme position. It is evident that due to the counterbalanced arrangement the windows may be easily moved in spite ,of theirsubstantial weight; and furthermore that the two sides of the sashes must move equally together since the two pinions are constrained against relative angular movement. Also the universal joint connection allows the pinions to .be out of line and still be kept in angular agreement. By these means the sashes are effectively prevented from binding.

In Fig. 7 .is shown an alternative construction in which the hub 40 has a worm wheel 41 keyed on its outer reduced end outside the bearing 39, and a worm 48, bearing in bracket arms extending from the casting 38, meshes with the worm wheel and is provided with a hand crank 49 by which'the windows may be cranked up and down. This construction has the advantage that vibration will not be able to move the sashes, and they are locked in anyv adjusted position.

To force the movable sashes tightly together when closed, locking and wedging means are provided. Each rack 34 has at its upper end a lateral projection 50 which has a beveled surface and a screw 5|, provided with a hand wheel 52, engages in a tapped hole in the casting 38 above each bearing 39 and at right angles thereto. in line with the projection :50 when the window is closed. The inner end of the screw is tapered off and will ride up on the inclined surface of the projection 50 when the screw is turned in and thus will .urgethe racks .34 down and press the sashes together.

To guide and protect the racks .35 elongated sheaths 53 are provided for them, and over both side frame members protective channel covers 54 are .removably secured. To support these covers angle brackets 55 and 56 are secured to the bot tom and top respectively of each side frame member, the channel covers being secured thereto by screws, as shown. In addition the castings 38 have each a forward angular extension 51 which forms an intermediate attachment for the channel cover. To secure the rack sheaths 53 in position they may be attached by any well known means to the inner faces of brackets 56 and 51. Oil cups 58 are tapped into the bracket arms 56 and provide lubrication for the racks 35 in their sheaths.

To remove the movable sashes the section of guide rail 22 between points x and y is removed as shown in Fig. 2, the racks 35 being first uncoupled from the arms 36 and the lower movable sash dropped down. The point a: is below the top of this lower sash, but the weather strips 33 provide sufficient resiliency and play to the rail section to allow the loosened sections to be turned out of line and pulled out. The upper movable sash is then dropped down below the point y and removed in the manner indicated in broken lines. The bottom movable sash is then raised to clear the bottom fixed sash and is free to be taken out. First of course the cover channels 54 have to be removed which they are free to be when the attaching screws and the locking and wedging members and the oil cups 58 are removed.

It will be understood that the invention may in many respects be otherwise embodied and that while one form which I have found to be particularly satisfactory is disclosed, the invention is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A window construction for enclosed decks and the like comprising a window frame having a continuous sash guide on the inner face of each of its two side members, two alined sashes in the frame slidable on said guides, a pair of pinions, one on each side member of the frame, having substantially alined axes extending transversely of the frame and laterally offset from the sashes, a rack on each side piece of one sash meshing with the proximate side of the respective pinion, and an opposed rack on each side of the other sash meshing with the opposite side of the respective pinion.

2. A window construction for enclosed decks and the like comprising a window frame having a continuous sash guide on the inner face of each of its two side members, two alined sashes in the frame slidable on said guides, a pair of pinions, one on each side member of the frame, having substantially alined axes extending transversely of the frame and laterally offset from the sashes, a transverse shaft connecting the respective pinions and maintaining them in fixed angular relation, a rack on each side piece of one sash meshing with the proximate side of the respective pinion, and an opposed rack on each side of the other sash meshing with the opposite side of the respective pinion.

3. A window construction for enclosed decks and the like comprising a window frame having a continuous sash guide on the inner face of each of its two side members, two alined sashes in the frame slidable on said guides, a pair of pinions, one on each side member of the frame, having substantially alined axes extending transversely of the frame and laterally offset from the sashes, a transverse shaft connecting the respective pinions and maintaining them in fixed angular relation, a manually operative crank connected to impart rotation to said shaft and pinions, a rack on each sidepiece of one sash meshing with the proximate side of the respective pinion, and an opposed rack on each side of the other sash meshing with the opposite side of the respective pinion. a

4. A window construction for enclosed decks and the like comprising a window frame having a continuous sash guide on the inner face of each of its two side members, two alined sashes in the frame slidable on said guides, a pair of pinions, one on each side member of the frame, having substantially alined axes extending transversely of the frame and laterally offset from the sashes, each pinion having an axial hub on its face toward the other pinion, a transverse shaft extending between the hubs and having a universal joint connection with each hub, a rack on each side piece of one sash meshing with the proximate side of the respective pinion, and an opposed rack on each side of the other sash meshing with the opposite side of the respective pinion.

5. A window construction for enclosed decks and the like comprising a window frame having a continuous sash guide on the inner face of each of its two side members, two fixed sashes in the frame, one at the top laterally outside the guides and the other at the bottom laterally inside the guides, two alined sashes slidable on said guides and proportioned to close the space between the two fixed sashes, a bracket member secured to each side frame member and including a bearing having its axis transverse of the frame and forwardly oifset from the respective guide and substantially at the bottom of the upper fixed sash, a pinion bearing in each of said bearings, a rack on each side piece of the upper slidable sash meshing with the proximate side of the respective pinion, bracket arms outstanding from the upper corners of the lower slidable sash, and a rack secured to each bracket arm and meshing with the opposite side of the respective pinion.

6. A window construction for enclosed decks and the like comprising arwindow frame having a continuous sash guide on the inner face of each of its two side members, two fixed sashes in the frame, one at the top laterally outside the guides and the other at the bottom laterally inside the guides, two alined sashes slidable on said guides and proportioned to close the space between the two fixed sashes, a bracket member secured to each side frame member and including a bearing having its axis transverse of the frame and forwardly offset from the respective guide and substantially at the bottom of the upper fixed sash, a pinion bearing in each of said bearings, each pinion having an axial hub on its face toward the other pinion, a transverse shaft extending between the hubs and having a universal joint connection with each hub, a rack on each side piece of the upper slidable sash meshing with the proximate side of the respective pinion, bracket arms outstanding from the upper corners of the lower slidable sash, and a rack secured to each bracket arm and meshing with the opposite side of the respective pinion.

7. A window construction for enclosed decks and the like comprising a window frame having a continuous sash guide on the inner face of each of its two side members, two fixed sashes in the frame, one at the top laterally outside the guides and the other at the bottom laterally inside the guides, two alined sashes slidable on said guides and proportioned to close the space between the two fixed sashes, a bracket member secured to each side frame member and including a bearing having its axis transverse of the frame and forwardly offset from the respective guide and sub.- stantially at the bottom of the upper fixed sash, a pinion bearing in each of said bearings, each pinion having an axial hub on its inner face, a transverse shaft extending between the hubs and having a universal joint connection with each hub, a rack on each side piece of the upper slida- 10 ble sash meshing with the proximate side of the respective pinion, bracket arms outstanding from the upper corners of the lower slidable sash, a rack secured to each bracket arm and meshing with the opposite side of the respective pinion, and adjustable wedging members carried by each bracket member in position to engage the top ends of the first mentioned racks when the upper slidable sash is closed.

WALDO L. KRAEMER. 

